RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: The concept of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) has recently appeared to better characterise patients with cryptogenic stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic review of studies published since 2014 was performed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical features and prognosis of patients with ESUS and their proportion among patients with cryptogenic stroke. RESULTS: Ten studies were identified with a total of 14,810 patients. The frequency of ESUS varied between 6% and 42%. We observed a high percentage of patients with cryptogenic stroke who met ESUS criteria (37-82%). The mean age of these patients was 65-68 years. The mean severity of the stroke, as measured using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, was found to be 3-7 points. A high degree of variability was seen in the proportion of atrial fibrillation (detected during follow-up) related to the electrocardiogram monitoring technique. In five studies, some minor source of cardioembolism was observed in one out of every two patients, the most frequent being the persistence of patent foramen ovale. The risk of recurrence was 5-14.5%. CONCLUSION: The application of the new ESUS criteria provides a better definition of patients with cryptogenic stroke. Applying the concept of ESUS requires not only adequate electrocardiogram monitoring, but also routine complementary examinations to rule out the presence of minor sources of cardioembolism and other sources of embolism other than atrial fibrillation.

TITLE: Revision sistematica de las caracteristicas y pronostico de los sujetos que sufren un ictus criptogenico no lacunar de mecanismo embolico.Introduccion. Recientemente ha surgido el concepto de ictus criptogenico no lacunar de mecanismo embolico ­del ingles embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS)­ para caracterizar mejor a los pacientes con ictus criptogenico. Pacientes y metodos. Se realiza una revision sistematica de los estudios publicados desde 2014 hasta la actualidad, valorando la epidemiologia, las caracteristicas clinicas y el pronostico de los pacientes con ESUS y su proporcion entre los pacientes con ictus criptogenico. Resultados. Se identificaron 10 estudios con un total de 14.810 pacientes. La frecuencia de ESUS vario entre el 6 y el 42%. Se observo un porcentaje elevado de pacientes con ictus criptogenico que cumplian los criterios de ESUS (37-82%). La edad media de estos pacientes era de 65-68 años. La gravedad media del ictus, medida por la National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, se establecio en 3-7 puntos. Se observo una alta variabilidad en la proporcion de fibrilacion auricular (detectada durante el seguimiento) relacionada con la tecnica de monitorizacion del electrocardiograma. En cinco estudios, hasta en uno de cada dos pacientes se observo alguna fuente de cardioembolismo menor, la mas frecuente, la persistencia del foramen oval permeable. El riesgo de recurrencia fue del 5-14,5%. Conclusion. La aplicacion de los nuevos criterios de ESUS define mejor a los pacientes con ictus criptogenico. La aplicacion del concepto de ESUS exige no solo una monitorizacion de electrocardiograma adecuada, sino exploraciones complementarias de rutina para descartar la presencia de fuentes de cardioembolismo menor y de otras fuentes de embolismo diferentes a la fibrilacion auricular.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Oral anticoagulant treatments, such as vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), are the main treatments administered to atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in order to prevent ischemic stroke (IS). However, the genes involved in the VKA metabolism can undergo variations in a single nucleotide (SNP). These SNPs may then affect the VKA target enzyme (VKORC1), VKA degradation enzyme (CYP2C9), and vitamin K bioavailability enzyme (CYP4F2). We genotyped these SNPs in a cohort of patients with non-valvular AF who were under VKA treatment after suffering an IS. Clinical variables, CHADS2-VASC score and data about the international normalized ratio (INR) within the therapeutic range were all recorded. DNA was extracted from blood and genotyping was carried out by DNA sequencing. The main endpoint was the time from VKA onset to IS. Of a total of 356 consecutive IS patients monitored, 33 were included in the study. The median time to the event was 2248.0 days (interquartile range [IQR] 896.3-3545.3). The median CHADS2-VASC score was 4.0 (IQR 3.0-6.0). When we considered the risk of IS within 2 years under VKA treatment, we found that only the rs2108622 AA genotype was significantly associated with this endpoint (early IS) (hazard ratio 6.81, 95% CI 1.37-33.92, p = 0.019). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis also showed a significant relationship between early IS and rs2108622 AA genotype (Log rank p = 0.022). The CYP4F2 gene rs2108622 polymorphism was associated with a risk of early IS in NV-AF patients under VKA treatment.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is a leading cause of disability in adults. The development of depressive symptoms is the most common emotional complication. To date, most studies of post-stroke depression have excluded patients who have suffered a minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), although they are equally vulnerable subgroups of this sickness. AIM: We present a review of published studies of post-stroke depression to elucidate aspects that have already been widely demonstrated and those who need more evidence. DEVELOPMENT: The post-stroke depression is both frequent in patients with established stroke and minor stroke or TIA. Although there are discrepancies in the definition used, in up to one out of three patients will develop this complication. We have identified risk factors of post-stroke depression with a broad scientific background (female, history of depression or other psychiatric disorders, stroke severity, functional impairment) and other without it (quality of life, cognitive impairment and neuroimaging biomarkers). The main methodological limitations found are: confusion between post-stroke depression and depressive symptoms; variability in rating scales used; and temporal variability in the time of the evaluation of mood. To date very few studies focused on minor stroke or TIA. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are required with improved design in order to help establish the risk of post-stroke depression at different times after the stroke, minor stroke or TIA and the importance of all the factors described above.

TITLE: Actualizacion de la depresion postictus: nuevos retos en pacientes con ictus minor o ataque isquemico transitorio.Introduccion. El ictus es una de las principales causas de discapacidad en la poblacion adulta. El desarrollo de sintomas depresivos es la complicacion afectiva mas frecuente. Hasta ahora, en la mayoria de los estudios sobre depresion postictus se ha excluido a los pacientes que han sufrido un ictus minor o un ataque isquemico transitorio (AIT), si bien es un subgrupo igualmente vulnerable a esta enfermedad. Objetivo. Revisar los estudios publicados de depresion postictus para dilucidar los aspectos que ya se han demostrado ampliamente y los que necesitan mayor evidencia. Desarrollo. La depresion postictus es frecuente tanto en los pacientes con ictus establecido como en los pacientes con ictus minor o AIT. Aunque existen discrepancias en la definicion utilizada, aproximadamente uno de cada tres pacientes desarrollara esta complicacion. Se han identificado factores de riesgo de depresion postictus con un amplio respaldo cientifico (sexo femenino, antecedentes de depresion u otros trastornos psiquiatricos, gravedad del ictus y afectacion funcional) y otros sin el (calidad de vida, deterioro cognitivo y biomarcadores de neuroimagen). Las principales limitaciones metodologicas halladas son la confusion entre depresion postictus y sintomatologia depresiva, la variabilidad en las escalas de evaluacion usadas y la variabilidad en el momento temporal de la evaluacion del estado de animo. Hasta ahora son muy pocos los estudios en el ictus minor o el AIT. Conclusiones. Se necesitan nuevos estudios con mejor diseño que ayuden a establecer el riesgo de depresion postictus a diferentes tiempos tras el ictus, el ictus minor o el AIT, y establecer la importancia de los factores descritos previamente.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Most approaches to transient ischaemic attack (TIA) triage use clinical scores and vascular imaging; however, some biomarkers have been suggested to improve the prognosis of TIA patients. METHODS: Serum levels of copeptin, adiponectin, neopterin, neuron-specific enolase, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-6, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, S100ß, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1α as well as clinical characteristics were assessed on consecutive TIA patients during the first 24 h of the onset of symptoms. RESULTS: Among 237 consecutive TIA patients, 12 patients (5%) had a stroke within 7 days and 15 (6%) within 90 days. Among all candidate biomarkers analysed, only copeptin was significantly increased in patients with stroke recurrence (SR) within 7 days (P = 0.026) but not within 90 days. A cut-off point of 13.8 pmol/l was established with a great predictive negative value (97.4%). Large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) [hazard ratio (HR) 12.7, 95% CI 3.2-50.1, P < 0.001] and copeptin levels ≥13.8 pmol/l (HR 3.9, 95% CI 1.01-14.4, P = 0.039) were independent predictors of SR at the 7-day follow-up. LAA was the only predictor of 90-day SR (HR 7.4, 95% CI 2.5-21.6, P < 0.001). ABCD3I was associated with 7- and 90-day SRs (P = 0.025 and P = 0.034, respectively). The association between copeptin levels and LAA had a diagnostic accuracy of 90.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Serum copeptin could be an important prognostic biomarker to guide management decisions among TIA patients. Therefore, TIA patients with copeptin levels below 13.8 pmol/l and without LAA have an insignificant risk of 7-day SR and could be managed on an outpatient basis.

Asunto(s)